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Millennium Dome
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of those invited to attend the Millennium Dome on 31 December, other than those described as ordinary members of the public, who have subsequently indicated they will not be attending. [102255]
Janet Anderson [holding answer 14 December 1999]: The details of those concerned are held on the Dome Opening Celebration's secure database and are subject to data protection legislation. All those concerned would need to be contacted for their agreement to release their details. The costs of doing so, including the opportunity costs of moving NMEC employees on to such a task, are at this stage of the project disproportionate to the outcome, especially when the results would be uncertain in terms of agreements and refusals.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for (a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102333]
Mr. Chris Smith:
My Department has four buildings which are under its direct control and occupied by DCMS staff. These are: 2-4 Cockspur Street; Grove House, 2-6 Orange Street; 6th floor Haymarket House, Oxendon Street; and Queen's Yard, 179a Tottenham Court Road.
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Smoking rooms are provided in accordance with departmental policy, with the exception of the new premises at Tottenham Court Road for the Government Art Collection. At these premises, smoking anywhere within the building is deemed an unacceptable fire hazard and none of the staff currently employed there are smokers.
First aid rooms are available for pregnant and nursing mothers. Although no rooms are specifically set aside for ethnic minority religious use, the Department is flexible in accommodating such needs.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many submissions he received during his consultation on the future funding of the BBC which were (a) in favour of and (b) opposed to a digital television licence fee, indicating the organisations and individuals in each case. [102409]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 13 December 1999]: Over 2,000 responses to the public consultation were received by the end of November. Of the 543 which commented on the independent review panel's recommendation for a digital licence supplement, (a) 14 were in favour and (b) 529 were opposed to the proposal. I will publish a summary of responses when I announce my decisions on the Davies panel's recommendations in January.
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Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the amount of public funds given to support sporting activities for (a) men and (b) women in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [102192]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 13 December 1999]: Information on the amount of public funds given is not available in the form requested. However, to date Sport has been awarded £1.145 billion from the National Lottery, which has benefited 5,089 capital projects. Additionally, the Sports Councils, through which my Department's funding for sport is channelled, have received £234.3 million grant in aid in the last five years to provide support to the governing bodies of sport and other representative bodies. Funding of around £750,000 is being provided this year to three gender-specific sports: women's netball, rugby and football. All applications for a Lottery award should demonstrate that it would benefit all sections of the community, including young people, ethnic communities, people with disabilities, older people and women.
Mr. Jim Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed in the hotel, catering and restaurant trade (a) in each of the last 20 years, (b) on 1 May 1997 and (c) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [102424]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 13 December 1999]: Estimates of the total number of employee and self- employment jobs in the hotel, catering and restaurant trade in Great Britain are available for 1984 onwards and are presented in the table:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1984 | 1,154 |
| 1985 | 1,188 |
| 1986 | 1,201 |
| 1987 | 1,194 |
| 1988 | 1,268 |
| 1989 | 1,348 |
| 1990 | 1,391 |
| 1991 | 1,366 |
| 1992 | 1,355 |
| 1993 | 1,319 |
| 1994 | 1,323 |
| 1995 | 1,386 |
| 1996 | 1,419 |
| 1997 | 1,452 |
| 1998 | 1,443 |
| 1999 | 1,425 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics
Estimates for the number of self-employed are provided by the Labour Force Survey, which bases its annual figures on employment in the spring months (March to May). The employee jobs figures are derived from official employment surveys and are for June each year. The employment surveys are conducted at regular fixed points
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each year, and therefore information is not available for employment in the hotel, catering and restaurant trade on 1 May 1997.
The latest available estimate for the annual number of employee and self-employment jobs in the hotel, catering and restaurant trade is for 1999, and is presented in the table.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the Television Licensing Authority regarding the provision whereby sheltered schemes can lose their concession if residents include men between the ages of 60 to 65 years; [102227]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 14 December 1999]: The Government are considering the Davies report's recommendations on the concessionary scheme in the light of responses to the public consultation, including those of the BBC as Licensing Authority. We intend to announce our conclusions in January.
Mr. Viggers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make transitional arrangements to assist those living in households containing a resident aged over 75 years who buys a television licence which extends into the period when such households no longer have to pay the licence fee. [102621]
Janet Anderson:
The Government anticipate that the arrangements for free television licences for pensioners aged 75 or over will incorporate provisions for refunds in respect of unexpired licences. We intend to announce shortly full details of how the scheme will operate.
(2) if he will review the rules on the eligibility of sheltered housing schemes for concessionary television licences to allow schemes which include some residents under pensionable age to qualify for the concession. [102522]
Chief Electoral Officer's Report
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish the report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for 1998-99. [103367]
Mr. Mandelson: I am pleased to announce that the annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for the year 1998-99 has today been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library.
Adult Education
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what support is available from his Department for adult students from Northern Ireland to attend (a) Ruskin College, Oxford and (b) other institutions; and if he will make a statement; [102681]
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Mr. Mandelson:
Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received from (a) political parties and (b) community groups concerning the withdrawal of troops and the dismantling of military structures; and if he will make a statement. [102622]
Mr. Ingram:
There have been a number of representations recently from both political parties and community groups for the dismantling of military structures in Belfast and in South Armagh and the withdrawal of troops from East Tyrone.
(2) if adult students from Northern Ireland are eligible for adult education bursaries in higher education; and if he will make a statement. [102680]
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